A farmer from East Cleveland is pleading with families enjoying the snow not to bring their dogs into his fields after three of his sheep were savaged.

Colin Boocock owns Freebrough Hill in Moorsholm and has welcomed sledgers onto his land for the last 30 years.

But this year, families have been ignoring the signs banning dogs from his fields, and three of his sheep were attacked last Tuesday.

Mr Boocock said: “One of my sheep has such bad injuries it needs putting down. I took it to the vets, but its face has been ripped out. It can’t eat. Dogs and sheep don’t mix, and people don’t seem to understand that.”

Mr Boocock says his sheep have been left frightened and startled.

He added: “It’s private land. I don’t mind people going sledging as long as they respect my property and don’t bring their dogs.”